NORTH ADAMS WINS GRANT TO PRESENT LEVITT AMP MUSIC SERIES

NORTH ADAMS, MASS. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC), along with the City of North Adams Office of Tourism and Community Events, MASS MoCA, North Adams Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Berkshire Community Coaltion (NBCC) announce that North Adams on Tuesday was named as one of 15 small to mid-sized towns and cities across America to win a Levitt AMP grant award of $25,000 in matching funds to present a free concert series at Colegrove Park.

Last July, the Levitt Foundation invited nonprofits, and municipalities partnering with a nonprofit, to submit proposals that would reflect the three goals of the Levitt AMP awards: Amplify community pride and the city’s unique character; enrich lives through the power of free, live music; and illustrate the importance of vibrant public places.

In an effort to inspire and engage communities across the country around the power of creative place making, the Levitt Foundation opened the selection process to the public to choose the top 25 finalists. The public voted online on the submitted proposals over a four-week period in November 2015 to select their favorite project.

“We are thrilled to announce the 2016 Levitt AMP Grant Awards winners. Each made a compelling case for how the Levitt AMP Music Series will activate a public space and strengthen the social and economic fibers of their communities,” said Sharon Yazowski, executive director of the Levitt Foundation. “As North Adams’ new main public park, the soon-to-be re-launched Colegrove Park will be an ideal setting for the Levitt AMP North Adams Music Series, bringing the community together and creating a welcoming destination for all to enjoy.”

As one of the winners, North Adams will present 10 free concerts featuring a diverse lineup of entertainment this year, in August, September and October. The concerts will take place at the newly renovated Colegrove Park, which is set to open this spring.

Designated as a public park in 1904, Colegrove Park included a fountain, tiered lawns, grand marble stairways, and, at one time, a bandstand. It remained a vibrant public park until the mid-1950s. Once renovations are complete, the park will feature a band shell, natural amphitheater-like seating on the hill, new landscaping, and a pathway between Eagle Street and the Colegrove Park Elementary School.

The Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation is a private family foundation that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. Through its support of creative place-making projects, the Levitt Foundation empowers communities to transform neglected public spaces into welcoming destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together and invigorates community life.

The Foundation's primary funding areas include the signature Levitt program of permanent outdoor music venues and the Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards, an annual grants competition. The Levitt network of permanent outdoor music venues and AMP concert sites collectively presents the largest free concert series in America, serving more than half a million people annually through 450+ free, family-friendly concerts. As an example of the high caliber talent presented across the Levitt network, the 2016 GRAMMY nominees include 21 artists who have performed on Levitt stages in recent years.

The Levitt AMP Grants are made possible by Levitt Pavilions, a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of America through the power of free, live music. With Levitt AMP, the joy of free, live music is bringing communities together in small and mid-sized towns and cities across the country.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is the Commonwealth's public liberal arts college and a campus of the Massachusetts state university system. MCLA promotes excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity, public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship. MCLA graduates are prepared to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.​